Plan Baton Rouge

[Mr. Burnham]

Looking forward to some renderings/construction. 

[Antrell Williams]

That's a really good location! Hopefully this spurs more retail development east of 4th St. It's badly needed!

[richyb83]

Yes indeed! It would be nice to see a few more projects like this along Seventh & Eighth Streets too.....

 

DDD Commission Meeting January 12, 2016, 8:00 a.m. Charles W. Lamar Jr. YMCA - 521 Third Street AGENDA 1. Call to Order 2. Declare Quorum 3. Approve Agenda 4. Approve December 8, 2015 Minutes 5. Board Action 2016 DDD Officers 6. Update from Previous Board Meeting a. Governmental Issues b. Development Initiatives Downtown East Developments 500 Laurel Rotary Centennial Project Repentance Park Downtown Greenway Downtown Bike Racks Downtown Maintenance Committee Florida and Lafayette Streetscape New Business Events Louisiana Marathon - January 15-17 Kings and Queens Jazz Brunch - January 17 MLK March - January 18 Louisiana Life March - January 23 Mardi Gras Parades Foundation for Historical Louisiana/Old Governor's Mansion Manship Theatre / LSU MOA Capitol Park Museum Old State Capitol River Center Events LASM USS Kidd 7. Strategic Plan a. Plan Baton Rouge II 8. Ongoing Projects CPEX BREADA DBA 9. Correspondence 10. Public Comment

 

[greg225]

8 minutes ago, richyb83 said:

Yes indeed! It would be nice to see a few more projects like this along Seventh & Eighth Streets too.....

 

DDD Commission Meeting January 12, 2016, 8:00 a.m. Charles W. Lamar Jr. YMCA - 521 Third Street AGENDA 1. Call to Order 2. Declare Quorum 3. Approve Agenda 4. Approve December 8, 2015 Minutes 5. Board Action 2016 DDD Officers 6. Update from Previous Board Meeting a. Governmental Issues b. Development Initiatives Downtown East Developments 500 Laurel Rotary Centennial Project Repentance Park Downtown Greenway Downtown Bike Racks Downtown Maintenance Committee Florida and Lafayette Streetscape New Business Events Louisiana Marathon - January 15-17 Kings and Queens Jazz Brunch - January 17 MLK March - January 18 Louisiana Life March - January 23 Mardi Gras Parades Foundation for Historical Louisiana/Old Governor's Mansion Manship Theatre / LSU MOA Capitol Park Museum Old State Capitol River Center Events LASM USS Kidd 7. Strategic Plan a. Plan Baton Rouge II 8. Ongoing Projects CPEX BREADA DBA 9. Correspondence 10. Public Comment

 

Nice to see Downtown East on the agenda haven't really heard much since early last year. I think the area is in the Downtown boundaries now hopefully they have  some good ideas for development.

Edited January 10, 2016 by greg225

[greg225]

Also during this morning’s session, Ted Jack, BREC’s assistant superintendent of planning, operations and resources, said the agency must move its Sports Academy from the gym inside city-parish Department of Public Works facility to BREC’s renovated Spanish Town Park.

The city-parish needs the space at the DPW facility, but has given BREC as long as necessary to relocate. Jack said the projected cost for the new Sports Academy, which will be modeled after some multipurpose sporting facilities around the country, is about $7.5 million. To make the full scope of the project a reality, however, BREC is working to acquire about three acres of land surrounding the park.

Jack said BREC officials have spoken to the various landowners in the surrounding area about purchasing that land. To help bring the full scope of the project to bear, BREC is also working to build a coalition of stakeholders to help. Jack said former LSU basketball players Glen Davis and Tyrus Thomas have pledged their support for the project because they played at the Sports Academy as youngsters.

“It’s a sweet spot for them in their heart,” Jack said.

Other items of note from this morning’s DDD meeting:      https://www.businessreport.com/article/nicholson-streetcar-project-public-meeting-set-jan-28-river-center

• Gaudet Bros. Salon will move from its Government Street location into a 700-square-foot space inside the Commerce Building at the corner of Laurel and North Third streets sometime in the second quarter of 2016. The traditional barber shop becomes the second business to move into the Commerce Building, following Magpie Café. Vicknair said 2,200 square feet of retail space remains available.

• Business First Bank will be moving its headquarters into the A. Hays Town’s old Union Federal Savings and Loan Building at 500 Laurel Street that is being renovated by Dyke Nelson. Using tax credits available with the National Register of Historic Places, Nelson said the building is being restored to its former glory, including reopening a rooftop terrace that had been enclosed and the return of a clear glass storefront.   https://www.businessreport.com/article/nicholson-streetcar-project-public-meeting-set-jan-28-river-center

[greg225]

River Center, hotels join forces to market downtown Baton Rouge to national groups   

Looking to market downtown Baton Rouge and all the amenities it offers, the Baton Rouge River Center, Visit Baton Rouge and seven downtown hotels have created Destination Downtown, a group effort to market the uniqueness of Baton Rouge with its convention center, restaurants, entertainment and more than 1,000 hotel rooms—all within walking distance.

The marketing push arose from a conversation between two hotel general managers about pooling resources to promote the downtown area for conventions and events, VBR Director of Sales Geraldine Bordelon says. Another hotel manager noted a similar arrangement in Miami. From there, the group brought in Visit Baton Rouge to act as the point of contact and established Destination Downtown.

“Downtown Baton Rouge is a great place to live, work and visit,” Patrick Browne, general manager of the Belle of Baton Rouge Casino & Hotel, says in a prepared statement. “Destination Downtown is committed to providing guidance, expertise, and resources to promote meetings and conventions coming to the beautiful city of Baton Rouge.”

Bordelon cites the recent Society of American Foresters convention at the River Center in November as an example of the groups that create an economic impact in downtown. For that event, more than 1,400 people came to downtown Baton Rouge for the convention, used more than 2,000 hotel room nights and visited downtown restaurants and businesses.

Bordelon says such niche organizations are the groups VBR recruits, pitching downtown’s walkability and affordability in trying to lure those groups to hold their annual events in the Capital City.

“The diversity of the River Center complex, the experienced staff, and the outstanding hospitality of our hotel partners has created the perfect turn-key destination for conventions, trade shows and events in Louisiana,” Michael Day, general manager of the River Center, says in a prepared statement. “Our patrons love the convenience of all that downtown has to offer, and our hotel partners make them feel at home.”    https://www.businessreport.com/article/river-center-hotels-join-forces-market-downtown-baton-rouge-national-groups

[greg225]

Metro Council to consider $100,000 study to improve downtown Baton Rouge parking                       

With a few simple changes that could be self-funded, John Fregonese says Baton Rouge officials could make parking in downtown more efficient and profitable with additions such as modern parking meters and a professional firm to manage and market the parking garages.

Fregonese, of Portland-based Fregonese and Associates, told the Metro Council as much in a presentation at its meeting Wednesday evening. At the council’s Jan. 27 meeting, a public hearing and vote will be held on a proposal to allocate $100,000 of parking revenue funds to move forward with implementing the plan.

Fregonese’s proposal expands upon the parking analysis conducted in 2014 by AECOM, a professional engineering company, and outlines an implementation strategy for making the changes.

“I think this is really taking an existing resource that you have, making it more efficient, making it a lot easier for the public to find and use the parking,” Fregonese says.

Baton Rouge has about 1,800 public parking spaces downtown—not counting the 1,000 spaces at the Belle of Baton Rouge casino—and another 2,700 private parking spaces. Of those 1,800 public spaces, 970 are on the street and 540 are metered.

“Your meter system is from the stone age; it’s very old-fashioned,” Fregonese says, adding the city-parish collected just $164,000 from parking meters in 2015 when it could have collected more than $550,000 with better enforcement.

“You’re not collecting what you should be collecting there and there’s a lot of inconvenience with the old-time meters,” says Fregonese, who recommends installing smart meters that allow people to pay using credit cards and can be tracked using smartphones to see where open spaces are located.

Another area where the city-parish could generate more revenue from downtown parking is the 1,350-space River Center parking garages, Fregonese says. Visitors and workers use only about 55% of those spaces. In 2014, the garages brought in $715,000, but cost $737,000 to operate, he notes.

A professional firm hired to manage the garages could brand and market the parking spaces to advertise availability. Fregonese notes that in downtown Portland, digital boards indicate available spots in garages.

Expansion of the east River Center garage is also recommended to add about 800 to 1,200 spots. Fregonese says an engineering firm has told him that the existing ramps could be incorporated into the renovations for about $9 million to $12 million.

The next step, assuming the council approves the contract on Jan. 27, would be to decide placement of the smart street meters. Fregonese says he hopes to have those in place by summer. Everything else he detailed in his presentation, except the River Center garage expansion, could be completed in 2016.

Also at Wednesday’s council meeting, Erika Green and LaMont Cole were chosen to fill the remaining terms of Metro Councilwomen Ronnie Edwards and C. Denise Marcelle, whose seats were vacated when they were sworn into state representative seats on Monday.

Former Councilman Mike Walker and the Rev. Shelton Dixon were also appointed to the BREC Board of Commissioners, and the council deferred on voting on a proposed economic opportunity zone for north Baton Rouge.

The council agreed to hold off for 30 days on voting so maps could be drawn for the proposed zone. The initiative, proposed by councilman and mayoral candidate John Delgado, would provide 10-year property tax abatements to developers and business owners on any improvements within the designated area.

See the presentation Fregonese made to the Metro Council.     https://www.businessreport.com/article/metro-council-consider-100000-study-improve-downtown-baton-rouge-parking                           

[greg225]

Visit Baton Rouge 5-year plan calls for increased partnerships, creating new brand for Capital City 

Over the next five years, Visit Baton Rouge plans to meet more with its external stakeholders in the community to get residents involved with promoting the Capital City as a premier tourism destination.

As the organization lays out in its recently adopted five-year plan, it hopes, among other things, to turn local residents into tourism ambassadors to help sell Baton Rouge, as well as to purchase T-shirts and merchandise for locals to wear and give to tourists.

Paul Arrigo, president and CEO of Visit Baton Rouge, calls that push the most important of the seven goals laid out in the plan, which was developed in collaboration with VBR staff, board of directors and local consulting firm Emergent Method.

He calls the plan a “broad picture road map” that will guide the agency’s work for the next five years. The costs associated with implementing the goals and timeline have not been determined, Arrigo adds.

Part of that plan is the creation of five strategic priorities that will make sure the agency continues toward increasing tourism in Baton Rouge.

Those priorities are ensuring the financial growth and diversification of Visit Baton Rouge; identifying the programs, assets and events that need help in attracting tourists; continuing out-of-state marketing campaigns; instilling a mindset in partner agencies to promote Baton Rouge as a tourist destination; and provide outstanding service to visitors and the community.

With those priorities in mind, the agency created a series of seven goals—goals that generally hit on three or four of the five priorities.

The goals are to position VBR as an economic driver and the ultimate authority in promoting tourism in the city; create a cohesive regional brand for Baton Rouge; equip Baton Rouge residents, stakeholders and the VBR Board of Directors to serve as tourism ambassadors; remain fiscally sound while finding new funding streams; use data analytics to increase marketing effectiveness; and growing Baton Rouge tourism through increased hotel engagement.

“When you look at the goals, they are very attainable,” Arrigo says.

Arrigo says creating a brand that is embraced by not just the alphabet soup of agencies in the city, but the citizens and stakeholders, is one of the most important goals.

“This city really needs an identity, a brand that is embraced,” he says.

For each goal, the agency lays out a list of measurement criteria to judge the success of the goal and strategies toward achieving that goal.

For example, measurement criteria for the first strategic goal includes the development of a priority event list and growth strategies for those events, and the creation of a long-term plan on how the tourism agency can support its partner agencies. A list of strategies on how to reach that goal features the creation of non-traditional approaches to pitching Baton Rouge to interested visitors, and identifying well-known champions for tourism to feature in promotional material and marketing.    https://www.businessreport.com/article/visit-baton-rouge-5-year-plan-calls-increased-partnerships-creating-new-brand-capital-city

[richyb83]

One of the coolest office buildings(built in 55') in BR is undergoing major renovations...as Business First Bank relocates it's HQ's from Jefferson Hwy to Downtown at 500 block of Laurel Street...they will occupy 4 of the 6 floors...wish several more buildings like this would have been built all around the city

Edited February 7, 2016 by richyb83

[greg225]

Plans underway to connect Downtown Greenway to Government Street         

As the Downtown Greenway begins to take shape, plans are in the works to add a new segment to the corridor that will link Government Street to the bike and pedestrian corridor currently under construction between downtown and Mid City.

The Louisiana Avenue Connector is the latest addition planned for the Downtown Greenway, a 2.75-mile bike and pedestrian corridor that will link downtown with inner-city neighborhoods, City Park, the LSU lakes, Southdowns and beyond.

The connector will be about 0.5 miles and will run from East Boulevard at Louisiana Avenue to Eddie Robinson Drive, and continue under Interstate 110 to Government Street.

Separately, plans are in the works for a change to a nearly 3-mile stretch of Government Street in Mid City. In a project known as the Government Street Road Diet, the thoroughfare will be converted from four lanes to three, and turning and bike lanes will be added. The bike lanes along Government Street will stop at Eddie Robinson Drive, so tying in the Downtown Greenway at that juncture will give cyclists a continuous bike path from downtown to Mid City.

“This will be wonderful because it will connect Government Street to the Greenway,” says Downtown Development District Executive Director Davis Rhorer. “And where it goes under the interstate, we will add some cool lighting and landscaping, so it will be very nice.”

The Louisiana Avenue Connector will cost an estimated $200,000. No funding source has been identified but Rhorer says he will seek grants to cover the cost.

Last May, the first phase of the Downtown Greenway was officially dedicated with the opening of a trailhead at Expressway Park in Old South Baton Rouge. Work on the greenway is progressing in different phases in different parts of the city. The plan is to eventually run the trails to BREC Memorial Park and connect with trails running as far south as Siegen Lane.   https://www.businessreport.com/article/plans-underway-connect-downtown-greenway-government-street

Second phase of Metro Council chambers renovations set to begin        

As renovations to the Metro Council chambers in City Hall keep rolling along, workers are set to begin phase two, which will feature across-the-board technological upgrades that will enhance television broadcasting of the meetings.

An item will be introduced at this week’s meeting to appropriate $460,000 from the political, educational and governmental access, or PEG, fees—which are paid through local cable providers—to the current 2016 expense budget for the second half of the project. The council will vote on the item at its Feb. 24 meeting.

Stephanie Rivers, the city-parish’s director of buildings and grounds, says the money will be used to purchase new recording equipment, cameras, microphones and AV equipment through state contracts and to pay Baton Rouge-based Technical Services Group Inc. to perform the installation.

“It’s so important that the city have modern technology to do the TV portion of what we owe the residents so they can see what the metro council does every 2 weeks,” Rivers says. “As television goes digital, our chambers will also be digital.”

The first phase of the renovation—rebuilding the entire chambers and upgrading the council and visitor seating—is ongoing, and Rivers says both phases will happen simultaneously.

Work began on phase one in November. The builders are using commercial-grade materials that are expected to last about 25 to 30 years, Rivers says.

Officials hope to have the project completed by May 31, Rivers says, but 21 extra days are built into the schedule to account for any delays and the council could be back in its normal, yet upgraded, chamber by June or July.

Grace Hebert Architects is in charge of the redesign. See a rendering. The council will convene at 4 p.m. Wednesday in City Hall, 222 St. Louis St. See the full agenda.   https://www.businessreport.com/article/56430        

Edited February 8, 2016 by greg225

[cajun]

On 2/7/2016 at 1:32 AM, richyb83 said:

One of the coolest office buildings(built in 55') in BR is undergoing major renovations...as Business First Bank relocates it's HQ's from Jefferson Hwy to Downtown at 500 block of Laurel Street...they will occupy 4 of the 6 floors...wish several more buildings like this would have been built all around the city

Is that the A Hays Town building you mentioned on here a while back?  I don't think he had a big portfolio of commercial office buildings that large. If that's the one I am thinking of, there aren't many like it in downtown.

Glad to see investment into some of the older, smaller office spaces downtown.

Oddly enough, the suburban office buildings that you see on Bluebonnet are more influenced by his residential work.....which is certainly not a bad place to start.

Edited February 9, 2016 by cajun

[richyb83]

Yeah that's the one mentioned a few months back...love the sleek 6 story office building. could have gone for five more just like that; even  8-10 stories...it was built ahead of it's time & still timeless!  And  those suburban garden offices are all over the place. They are nice.... but getting a bit redundant!  Is there no limit to how many of those get built!

 

DDD Commission Meeting February 11, 2016, 8:00 a.m. Mentorship Academy - 339 Florida Street AGENDA

1. Call to Order 2. Declare Quorum 3. Approve Agenda 4. Approve January 12, 2016 Minutes 5. Board Action 6. Update from Previous Board Meeting a. Governmental Issues b. Development Initiatives Downtown East Developments Commerce Building Downtown Library Downtown Greenway Downtown Bike Racks Downtown Maintenance Committee Florida and Lafayette Streetscape Development Toolkit New Business Events Mardi Gras Mambo / Red Stick Roux Rally - February 13 Dr. Everett D. Gibson book discussion - February 16 Live After Five Reveal Party - February 17 OLOL 5K / B.R. Arts Market - March 5 OLOL Half Marathon - March 6 Foundation for Historical Louisiana/Old Governor's Mansion Manship Theatre / LSU MOA Capitol Park Museum Old State Capitol River Center Events LASM USS Kidd 7. Strategic Plan a. Plan Baton Rouge II 8. Ongoing Projects CPEX BREADA DBA 9. Correspondence 10. Public Comment

 

 

Edited February 10, 2016 by richyb83

[greg225]

Another Broken Egg to open third location in downtown Baton Rouge, plans fourth on Airline    

Another Broken Egg Café is coming to downtown Baton Rouge.

The restaurant, which has locations on CitiPlace Court and Bluebonnet Boulevard, will move into the new IBM building downtown. A tentative opening date has been set for this fall. It will be located on the first floor of the building at the corner of Lafayette and North streets.

Mary Deas Dunn, Another Broken Egg’s regional manager in Baton Rouge, said at this morning’s Downtown Development District meeting that the restaurant’s soon-to-be third location downtown will be open from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., seven days a week. It will cater to the breakfast and lunch crowd. Double R Restaurant Group, which operates the other Baton Rouge locations, will also be the franchisee of the downtown location. Another Broken Egg has been trying to find a downtown location since 2011, Dunn said.

This morning’s announcement at the DDD meeting drew gasps and applause from those in attendance. DDD Executive Director Davis Rhorer said the restaurant’s expansion into downtown is a sign of the area’s growth.

“Downtown is emerging now as a 24/7-hour place,” he said. “With the new residential coming downtown, the new hotels coming downtown, there’s a strong market and they recognize that.”

The new 129 seat restaurant will be approximately 3,650 square feet with a private room for breakfast and lunch meetings, according to a news release issued this morning. Double R, which has 24 Another Broken Egg locations across five states, is also looking to open a fourth Baton Rouge location on Airline Highway, between Highland and Barringer Foreman roads, in early 2017.

Raising Canes, Fisherman Haygood Law Firm, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation and Commercial Properties Realty Trust all have offices in the IBM building.    https://www.businessreport.com/article/another-broken-egg-open-third-location-downtown-baton-rouge-plans-fourth-airline

[greg225]

Private investment has driven the majority of downtown Baton Rouge growth in recent years     

Since 2010, $1.27 billion has flowed into downtown Baton Rouge, according to a report presented during Thursday’s Downtown Development District meeting. And the lion’s share of the investment—73%—is via private dollars.

DDD Executive Director Davis Rhorer says the high share of private investment indicates stability downtown.

“The most important thing is to see that downtown is growing. It’s getting stronger and stronger from a lot of different fronts,” Rhorer says. 

The data-heavy report, called as the Downtown Baton Rouge Toolkit, chronicles the economic redevelopment of downtown Baton Rouge and how the it has transformed from an area stifled by sprawl to one of the most desirable places to live in the city.

The document also details investments that have taken place there since DDD’s creation in 1987.

Total investment in the area tops $2.12 billion since the DDD was created, the document says. Since DDD’s creation nearly 30 years ago, private investment dollars account for 63%, or $1.34 billion, of total investment in the area. Public investment totals $786 million since that time.

Often it takes public dollars to spur additional private economic development activities, Rhorer says. One of the outcomes of downtown’s economic outcome is a steady increase in commercial and residential property values, the report says.

“Demand for office space and residential real estate has increased recent sale prices, as investors reposed to the growing attractiveness of downtown,” the report says.

Within the DDD’s boundaries, assessed real property was valued at approximately $98.3 million in 2014, up from about $65.1 million in 2009. Appraised real property, meanwhile, valued roughly $747.1 million in 2014, up from about $521.4 million in 2009.

The area has also seen an uptick in construction activity and commercial activity.

“Demand for downtown living is on the upswing and the private sector is responding with 319 units currently under construction or in planning,” according to the report, which notes residential investment alone has totaled $34.2 million since 2010.

While the report shows public funds have helped finance many of the projects already completed in downtown since 1987—about $638.5 million, compared to $566.5 million in projects by private investors—the projects under construction or in the planning stage now are primarily paid for with monies from the private sector. A total of $776.2 million in private funds are financing projects in development, as opposed to $147.9 in public dollars for projects underway

Major completed projects include: Belle of Baton Rouge Parking Garage/Expansion, II City Plaza, 525 Lafayette, the River Center Expansion, North Boulevard Town Square, Hotel Indigo, 440 on Third and the Shaw Center of Arts among others. Meanwhile, projects such as the Downtown Greenway, River Center Library, and the Water Campus are either under construction or being planned.

The DDD plans to release the full report online next week.

https://www.businessreport.com/article/private-investment-driven-majority-downtown-baton-rouge-growth-recent-years

[greg225]

Downtown residential investment in Baton Rouge tops $122M since 2010, DDD says     

Editor’s Note: This story has since been updated to correct dollar amount in headline.

Roughly $122.8 million worth of investment has been pumped into downtown residential projects in Baton Rouge since 2010, according to the Downtown Development District.

The figure is included in the DDD’s 2016 toolkit, a report that examines how the area has grown and changed throughout the years. The report was presented Thursday at the Downtown Development District Commission meeting and is now available online.

Downtown Baton Rouge has 3,938 occupied housing units, 65% of which are used by renters. Another 454 units are planned or under construction, according to the DDD.

“This increase in demand is attributed to an energetic and convenient urban lifestyle desired by young professionals and retirees,” the report says.

Private dollars have financed much of the downtown investment, the report says.

“Although many people see Downtown Baton Rouge as one unit, the city is really a series of separate neighborhoods that have grown together over time,” the report says.

Five neighborhoods make up the Downtown Development District—Downtown East, Capitol View North, the Central Business District, Beauregard Town and Spanish Town.

The Central Business District, it notes, continues to grow as developers respond to a “significant desire for an urban lifestyle in downtown Baton Rouge.”

“Due to the increasing demand to live in the Central Business District, over 317 additional residential units are currently underway,” the report says.  

According to the report, 3,687 people live within the area. The average household size is 3.01 people.

Singles account for 81% of the downtown population, and about half, or 52%, of them are male. Nearly half of the people living there are 29 years and under, and people 19 and younger account for 26% of the population.  https://www.businessreport.com/article/downtown-residential-investment-baton-rouge-tops-122k-since-2010

[richyb83]

Thanks for posting Greg...was going to post the Updated DDD Tool Kit 2016'  yesterday(too busy)...the Tool Kit clicked above in article is the 2014' for some strange reason even though it says 16?...

They have a nice list of Projects since Plan BR was implemented in 99? But did not include Capitol Park Complex; Iberville , Bienville, Galvez, LaSalle, Claiborne Bldg, Louisiana State Museum, etc....Wish i could post the Downtown Project Map with list...Copy/Paste not cooperating here

Check out PAGE #4

 

A MESSAGE FROM THE DDD   View toolkit >> press release >>

[cajun]

I think the residential work needs to slow or stop for a while.   I'm pretty bearish on SoLa's economic prospects over the next 3-5 years, and I think overbuilding downtown residential prior to a pretty serious downturn can actually be catastrophic to Baton Rouge's progress.

The IBM office tower is only about 50% occupied.   Just saying.....there are limited amounts of young people with money in Louisiana when oil prices are this low.  If the landowners start taking in more subsidized renters, the retail and entertainment sectors downtown will suffer and severely limit downtown during the economic rebound.

Edited February 17, 2016 by cajun

[greg225]

1 hour ago, cajun said:

I think the residential work needs to slow or stop for a while.   I'm pretty bearish on SoLa's economic prospects over the next 3-5 years, and I think overbuilding downtown residential prior to a pretty serious downturn can actually be catastrophic to Baton Rouge's progress.

The IBM office tower is only about 50% occupied.   Just saying.....there are limited amounts of young people with money in Louisiana when oil prices are this low.  If the landowners start taking in more subsidized renters, the retail and entertainment sectors downtown will suffer and severely limit downtown during the economic rebound.

I disagree the development should continue most of the young people that live Downtown have nothing to do with oil and gas. I think over the next 10 years the trend will be tech in  Baton Rouge.  The state problem now is that it depend to much on oil and gas hopefully that change.

[richyb83]

4 hours ago, cajun said:

 

The IBM office tower is only about 50% occupied.  

 

Only 50%?? Hmmm...    IBM company itself occupies 100,000 sq ft of the building (floors 4-7)  ...Commercial Properties(BRAF)  &Law offices occupy a few other floors... Raising Canes HQ's as well

 

[Antrell Williams]

12 hours ago, cajun said:

I think the residential work needs to slow or stop for a while.   I'm pretty bearish on SoLa's economic prospects over the next 3-5 years, and I think overbuilding downtown residential prior to a pretty serious downturn can actually be catastrophic to Baton Rouge's progress.

The IBM office tower is only about 50% occupied.   Just saying.....there are limited amounts of young people with money in Louisiana when oil prices are this low.  If the landowners start taking in more subsidized renters, the retail and entertainment sectors downtown will suffer and severely limit downtown during the economic rebound.

I agree. There are quite a bit of units downtown now and more on the way. 

10 hours ago, greg225 said:

I disagree the development should continue most of the young people that live Downtown have nothing to do with oil and gas. I think over the next 10 years the trend will be tech in  Baton Rouge.  The state problem now is that it depend to much on oil and gas hopefully that change.

My best friend lives downtown and works in oil and gas. I'm sure most of the people that do live downtown don't work in that field but oil and gas indirectly creates a ton of jobs that are also affected. Plus, downtown is a perfect place to live if you're crossing the MRB every day.

7 hours ago, richyb83 said:

 

Only 50%?? Hmmm...    IBM company itself occupies 100,000 sq ft of the building (floors 4-7)  ...Commercial Properties(BRAF)  &Law offices occupy a few other floors... Raising Canes HQ's as well

 

I feel like he was talking about the residential side. 

[richyb83]

^Oh ok...

A grand old house in the heart of the CBD...Somehow it stood the test of time

A MESSAGE FROM THE DDD Now leasing!   the grand lady, 310 convention st. The Grand Lady, circa 1905 has been newly renovated to accommodate 7 residential units. Located in the heart of Downtown's Arts & Entertainment District, The Grand Lady offers 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom, and studio apartments. See the links below to view floor plans, images, and get a rental application. the grand lady >> rental application >>

 

[dan326]

^Neat. That's definitely the right way to put it. They only have like 2 big old Victorian houses in downtown BR plus those few between the Galvez and Catholic tower.

[Antrell Williams]

Surprised it's not already at full capacity. Great place to live.

[richyb83]

Looking forward checking out some new renderings of the Lofts @ 6C

DDD Commission Meeting March 8, 2016, 8:00 a.m. St. James Episcopal, 445 Convention Street, Large Parlor AGENDA

1. Call to Order 2. Declare Quorum 3. Approve Agenda 4. Approve February 11, 2016 Minutes 5. Board Action 6. Update from Previous Board Meeting a. Governmental Issues b. Development Initiatives Downtown East Developments Lofts at 6C Parking Implementation Strategy Downtown Library Public Hearings - I-10 Meetings & Tram Workshop Downtown Greenway River Road - Great Places of Louisiana Downtown Bike Racks Baton Rouge Bike Share Downtown Maintenance Committee Florida and Lafayette Streetscape New Business Events St. James Glory and Gumbo - March 11 & 18 Providence Corporate Cup/ MRC Awareness Day - March 19 Live After Five - April 1,8,15,22,29 Fest For All - April 2 & 3 Sunday in the Park - April 3,10,17,24 Color Run - April 9 Baton Rouge Blues Festival - April 9 &10 Foundation for Historical Louisiana/Old Governor's Mansion Manship Theatre / LSU MOA Capitol Park Museum Old State Capitol River Center Events LASM USS Kidd 7. Strategic Plan a. Plan Baton Rouge II 8. Ongoing Projects CPEX BREADA DBA 9. Correspondence 10. Public Comment

Edited March 3, 2016 by richyb83

[greg225]

Route unveiled for Baton Rouge streetcar connecting LSU and downtown    

Planners released details today of the proposed route for Baton Rouge’s planned 3.4-mile streetcar that will link LSU to downtown.

Heading north, the proposed route travels along Nicholson Drive, which becomes St. Louis Street at Interstate 10, then utilizes Europe Street for one block to connect to St. Ferdinand Street, which becomes Fourth Street. The route then continues on Fourth Street in a north-south direction to the northernmost stop on the route—North Street at the State Capitol. The streetcar would then turn around and use the same route in a southbound direction.

Planners studied three proposed routes and determined that using Europe Street as the connector between St. Louis and St. Ferdinand “provides a smooth transition from Nicholson Drive to downtown and avoids the traffic, operational and vertical clearance challenges associated with the other options,” according to the report.

Downtown Development District Executive Director Davis Rhorer says the proposed route has other other advantages, too.

“I like the idea that it is a straight shot to and from downtown,” he says. “It’s easy walking distance from the stops to all the downtown attractions, it takes in the arts and entertainment district, and it goes by the River Center garages.”

Today’s report also suggests 11 recommended stops for the streetcar. Downtown they include North Street, Florida Street, North Boulevard, Government Street and Europe Street. Along Nicholson they include Water Street, Van Buren Street, McKinley Street, Aster Street and North Stadium Drive. Either Oklahoma Street or Galvez Street is listed as another possible stop.

The proposed route is one of several steps city officials and their planning team have to complete as they rush to secure funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation for the project. The city-parish has already received federal planning funds to design the project, but it now has to complete a detailed and lengthy process in order to qualify at the federal level for some of the $100 million in funds it will take to actually build the line, now officially called TramLink BR.

Time is of the essence because the Obama administration, which leaves office at the end of the year, has indicated its support for the project.   https://www.businessreport.com/article/route-unveiled-baton-rouge-streetcar-connecting-lsu-downtown